NEWSLETTER No. 55 / April 2014 IN FOCUS Mid-Term Assessment Event of EU-Outreach Activities On 26 March 2014 an assessment event on the outreach measures that have been carried out so far within the EU-Outreach Programme on Export Control of Dual-Use Items and the EU-Outreach Programme on Arms Export Controls under Council Decision 2012/711/CFSP brought together partner countries from 6 different regions to assess the impact and results of activities in both programmes. The event was organized by the European Commission (EC) together with the European External Action Service (EEAS). All partner countries of these two programmes, as well as a small group of some EU and COARM experts, were invited. Over 30 participants from South Eastern European countries, Eastern European and Caucasian partners of the European Neighbourhood Policy, North-African and Mediterranean partner countries, the Middle East, South East Asia and China attended the assessment event. The aim of this event was to assess from the perspective of the beneficiary countries the impact and results of the EU outreach activities undertaken under both programmes. It was meant as a forum for an exchange of views with beneficiary countries on activities that have been implemented as well as on the support provided under the outreach programmes in the field of export controls, and also to gather the countries expectations on future cycles of activities. The EU experts, for their part, were asked to share their experiences and insights with regard to carrying out outreach. This assessment event was divided into various sessions Summary of key objectives of the Mid-Term Assessment Event to assess the impact of the outreach activities carried out in the field of dual-use items and arms export controls in the framework of various EU-financed programmes; to engage in discussions with partner countries to identify possible future outreach activities to strenghten the non-proliferation network and the partnership established between the EU and the partner countries that addressed a number of topics such as how much EU outreach has and can be delivered; activities specific to brokering and transit controls and their overall enforcement; outreach coordination with other partners; and how outreach activities can best tackle core challenges in the sphere of export controls. The importance of information exchange and the challenges faced in the process of accessing and exchanging information were also discussed within a dedicated session. Further, the launch of the new EU outreach website on export control activities was introduced which includes various new features that will enhance information exchange. At the end of the meeting, the European Commission In this issue: Mid-Term Assessment of EU-Outreach Activitites, p. 1 News from the EU-Outreach Programmes, p. 3 Activity Calendar, p. 6 Points of Contact, p. 7
page 2 thanked the partner countries for accepting the invitation to this event and for sharing their valuable insights with them. We thank all of the involved partner countries for attending this very informative event and look foward to continuing this successful cooperation. Results Overall, all countries stressed the importance of cooperation with the EU in both the dual-use and arms areas, and emphasised their satisfaction with the implementation and approach carried out so far. Moreover, the partner countries made clear their expectations that cooperation should continue under both programmes.
page 3 News from the EU-Outreach Programmes Long Term Programme In the framework of the project EU-Outreach in Export Control of Dual Use-Items a first working meeting with the Kazakh delegation composed of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Industry Committee under the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MINT) took place at BAFA on 25 26 March 2014. MINT is the responsible licensing authority in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Led by the Deputy Head of the Industry Committee, the Kazakh side showed a high level of interest in cooperation and participation in the project so that a good basis for further cooperation with Kazakhstan could be established. The Kazakh side reported on its national export control system as well as the planned project to establish an Identification Centre for nuclear and radioactive materials which is one of the main objectives in the near future. During the discussion, aspects of future cooperation could be gathered and discussed in more detail. By focusing on the transfer of know-how in the fields of identification, brokering standards and ICP, the expectations and demands of the partner country as well as the possible areas of cooperation could be identified. Source: BAFA Kazakhstan Working Meeting The second working meeting, expected to take place in Astana at the beginning of June 2014 will complete and finalize the joint action plan for the upcoming 18 months. In July 2014 the Implementation Phase of this jointly elaborated action plan will begin. Southeast Europe Sub-regional Customs Seminar Under the overall heading of sharing experiences, enhancing interagency cooperation and identifying effective practices, a sub-regional customs seminar was jointly organised with the Slovenian Customs Administration at the Customs Headquarters and the Regional Customs House (Airport of Brnik) on 1 2 April 2014. Source: Slovenian Customs Administration This seminar was dedicated to three Southeast European partner countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia) and their respective customs administrations. The seminar further enhanced capacity with regard to the enforcement of dual-use export controls and strengthened the regional customs network. It was carried out within smaller groups of customs officials thus allowing plenty of room for intensive discussions on fundamental concepts in the sphere of export controls. With the very helpful support of the Slovenian customs authority, a study visit
page 4 to the Airport Ljubljana was organised which provided an excellent opportunity to have a look behind the scences of a border post, including how exports of goods and fast parcel shipments are processed. Southeast Asia Regional Interactive Workshop In conjunction with the Mid-Term Assessment event on 26 March, a separate meeting was organized on 25 March at the Flemish Peace Institute in Brussels within the framework of the EU s Outreach Programme in Export Control of Dual-Use Items for licensing and customs officials from Southeast Asian partner countries. This interactive workshop enhanced cooperation within the regional network and was based on an exchange on specific questions from the partner countries that covered a wide range of export control issues such as ITT, penalties, transit, the EU control list and end-use/enduser verification. South East Europe Regional Investigation and Prosecution Seminar From 28 30 April 2014 a regional seminar on the topic of investigation and prosecution takes place involving the Ministry of Justice, prosecutors and investigation units. It will focus on raising awareness of and discussing responses to challenges arising in the process of investigating and prosecuting dual-use export control law violations. It aimes to support each country in the process of assessing its national legislation regarding the appropriateness and effectiveness of penalties in regard to export control of dual-use items, build further capacity to enforce those penalties, and promote interagency cooperation between key actors.
page 5 EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence projects CoE Project 5 - Regional Meeting of the African Atlantic Façade The CoE Secretariat for the African Atlantic Façade invited the National Focal Points from the region as well as the relevant project implementors to discuss the status and further coordination of the current CoE projects. Representatives from inter alia DG DEVCO, JRC and UNICRI raised the issue of overlapping projects and highlighted the importance of creating synergies within the initiative. The meeting also provided a good opportunity for bilateral talks with the National Focal Points to discuss future cooperation and upcoming events. CoE Project 8 - Second Technical Assistance The second technical assistance visit to the South East Asian region within the framework of CoE Project 8 is taking place from 23 April to 1 May 2014. The purpose of this visit, which includes meetings with officials in Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines, is to provide technical support to these countries with regard to strengthening their national CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) legal frameworks. BAFA, as consortium partner (the consortium is led by VERTIC), is providing expertise in the area of strategic trade control legislation. Planned Activities CoE Project 5 - Central Harmonized Training From 12 16 May, representatives from 13 partner countries (Algeria, Gabon, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tunisia and Uzbekistan) will gather in Eschborn for a central harmonized training on the monitoring of imports and exports of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) items. The training is the centrepiece of the project and aims at developing knowledge and at exchanging best practices on the monitoring of CBRN items by focusing on legislation, procedures, enforcement and interagency cooperation. CoE Project 5 - Visit to Tajikistan A visit to Dushanbe is scheduled from 26-29 May which will include meetings with ministries and agencies involved in CBRN import/ export monitoring.
page 6 Activity Calendar Contract Date Country Activity Point of Contact April LTP 01 02 Southeast Europe Sub-regional Customs Seminar (BiH, MNE, SRB) LTP 02 04 Georgia Legal Workshop on Georgian Secondary Legislation (Kachreti, Georgia) Ms. Ivana Micic Mr. Werner Knapp LTP 28 30 Southeast Europe Regional Investigation and Prosecution Seminar Ms. Ivana Micic May CoE 5 12 16 Germany Central Harmonised Training Ms. Katja Philipp CoE 5 26 29 Tajikistan Initial Visit to Tajikistan Ms. Katja Philipp COARM 27 29 Albania COARM Regional for South East European Countries Mr. Werner Knapp June LTP tbc Philippines Licensing & List Workshop Dr. Sibylle Bauer Jor&Kaz tbc Kazakhstan Second Working Meeting Ms. Irina Albrecht LTP tbc former Yugoslav Advisory Meeting Republic of Macedonia Ms. Ivana Micic CoE 8 21 1st May Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines Technical Assistance Visit II Ms. Katja Philipp
page 7 Points of Contact China Mr. Reimar Angersbach, Reimar.Angersbach@bafa.bund.de, +49 6196 908-344 Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine) Mr. Werner Knapp, Werner.Knapp@bafa.bund.de, +49 6196 908-652 Gulf Region, Middle East (Jordan, United Arab Emirates) Mr. Werner Knapp, Werner.Knapp@bafa.bund.de, +49 6196 908-652 North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia) Ms. Eva Werder, Eva.Werder@bafa.bund.de, +49 6196 908-536 South Asia (India, Pakistan) Mr. Holger Beutel, Holger.Beutel@bafa.bund.de, +49 6196 908-712 South East Asia (Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam) Dr. Sibylle Bauer, Bauer@eu-outreach.info, +49 6196 908-812 or +49 172 4025-954 South Eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia) Ms. Ivana Micic, Micic@eu-outreach.info, +49 152 228 762 57 EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Inititative Project n 5 - Knowledge development and transfer of best practice on CBRN import/export monitoring implemented by BAFA in cooperation with SIPRI Project n 8 Prerequisite to strengthening CBRN national legal frameworks implemented by VERTIC, BAFA and UNODC Ms. Katja Philipp, Katja.Philipp@bafa.bund.de, +49 6196 908-944 COARM Mr. Werner Knapp, Werner.Knapp@bafa.bund.de, +49 6196 908-652 Ms. Ruxandra Ullrich, Ruxandra.Ullrich@bafa.bund.de, +49 6196 908-148
page 8 For further information or general questions on activities regarding cooperation in EU Outreach or partner countries please contact Ms. Irina Albrecht: Irina.Albrecht@bafa.bund.de or visit www.eu-outreach.info. For editorial questions concerning the newsletter, please contact Ms. Angelika Pfafferodt: Angelika.Pfafferodt@bafa.bund.de or Ms. Monica Wagner: Monica.Wagner@bafa.bund.de. BAFA, April 2014 Georg Pietsch, Director General, Project Team Leader Email: Sabrina.Kuehl@bafa.bund.de Phone: +49 6196 908-369 BAFA Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged.